IDE2092 – Global Intellectual History: Imperial Worlds
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The field of global intellectual history has emerged, over the last two decades or so, in line with the broader turn of historical studies toward global dimensions. The starting point is the problem of cultural encounter, with more or less pronounced power asymmetries, beyond a proximal zone of cultural neighbourhood. The guiding question is how such encounters produced and transformed intellectual traditions and positions across these encounters. This question implies a perspectival shift so that the study of ideas requires awareness of connections across cultural boundaries. The shift is far-reaching: it includes the need to think about cultural disconnection as a condition also produced by global-historical conditions.
The course will seek to introduce students to major themes and approaches from this field in 17th-20th century history. We will look at early modern "connected history" approaches, the history of enlightenment-era travel and travelogues, the history of colonial-era cultural and textual knowledge (orientalism, ethnography), the traditions of thought emanating from Atlantic slavery, the rise of humanitarianism and of international law, the political thought of empire, (multi-)cultural identity and hybridity, and postcolonial and decolonial theory. The course will offer orientation on how global history has shaped thought, and on how the different forms of globality or globalization that can be observed throughout modern history have been understood.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course:
- you have knowledge of the global history of ideas as a field of research.
- you have skills in reading historical original texts and placing them in the context of the history of ideas.
- you have knowledge of global cultural encounters and how knowledge traditions were shaped by these encounters, both in Europe and elsewhere.
- you have knowledge of key developments in the history of colonial and post-colonial history.
- you are able to reflect on the use of past global cultural encounters in contemporary social debates.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
We advice you to complete the introductory courses IDE1104 – Vestens idéer fra antikken til 1600 and IDE1105 – Vestens idéer fra 1600 til v?r egen tid, or equivalent.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with IDE4092 – Global Intellectual History: Imperial Worlds.
Teaching
The teaching of the course will consist of a combination of 12 lectures and seminars. The teaching will be given together with IDE4092.
In order for you to qualify for the final exam, the following?compulsory assignments?must be approved by the teacher:
- draft of the term paper
- comments upon your fellow students` drafts
Both submission and commenting will take place in?Canvas.
Examination
Term paper, 8-10 pages in length.
Recommended font: Times New Roman (font size 12) with?1 ? line spacing.
When you write a term paper, you are entitled to receive individual tutoring. The obligatory draft of the term paper forms the basis for this tutoring. An exact deadline for handing in the draft will be given by the teacher during the seminar.
To be eligible to take the exam, each student must have completed and obtained approval for the mandatory teaching activity.
Language of examination
The exam can be in English or Norwegian. English is encouraged in this class, as it will be the language of instruction.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.